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India-Pakistan
Stone Age Indian tribe kills two fishermen
2006-02-07
NEW DELHI — Members of one of the world’s most primitive and isolated tribes have killed two fishermen who strayed on to their island in India’s Andaman and Nicobar archipelago, a senior government official said yesterday.

Coast guards spotted two bodies buried in sand last month on North Sentinel Island, 40km west of the island chain’s capital, Port Blair, said chief administrator D.S. Negi. A group of about 20 Sentinelese tribes people were surrounding them, Negi said. “They (the tribals) were naked and carrying bows and arrows,” he told Reuters by telephone.

The Indian government has banned anyone from going near Sentinel Island where about 250 tribe members live a hunter-gathering lifestyle little changed since the Stone Age.

Negi said he had no knowledge of any previous killing of outsiders by the islanders. He said the fishermen, a young boy and an older man — who lived in Port Blair — had probably drifted towards the island without realising their mistake.
"Now, now, my nephew, they're just primitives, let me handle them."
Posted by:Steve White

#7  The Sentinalese had survived. They had gone to the high ground before the wave struck and were unaffected.

One naked warrior fired arrows at the chopper.

:> Never, never, never, never ever give up.
Posted by: HalfEmpty   2006-02-07 18:35  

#6  After the Tsunami, an Indian Coast Guard helicopter arrived to search for survivors and drop aid.

The Sentinalese had survived. They had gone to the high ground before the wave struck and were unaffected.

One naked warrior fired arrows at the chopper.
Posted by: john   2006-02-07 16:17  

#5  India does not permit access to most of these islands.

The tribals are quite vulnerable and the position of the Indian government and the Courts is that they must be left alone.

Any enviros will end up in a Navy brig.

A few of the islands are quite strategic. They hold listening posts. One has an airbase with long range Su-30 MKI fighters armed with cruise missiles. It holds the only tri-service command (army-navy-air force).
It has been suggested that a portion of the air force's second strike nuclear capability be based there (which may explain the Sukhoi squadron being moved there recently).
Posted by: john   2006-02-07 16:07  

#4  "Hope nobody goes there and wrecks it."

#3 anon1 - you're so cute when you're naive.

I have no doubt that as soon as the word gets out where this paradise is, the "environmentalists" will descend en masse to "protect" the place and its fauna - right out of existence. :-(
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2006-02-07 13:58  

#3  One day they may be the only people left.

I like the idea there are still lost worlds untouched by civilisation.

They found one this week in the mountains of West Papua.

Thousands of new species, and rare species of mammals totally unafraid of humans. Scientists just picked them up to study them. A paradise. Hope nobody goes there and wrecks it.
Posted by: anon1   2006-02-07 10:32  

#2  Fascinating place and people, for my money the most interesting on the planet. And totally hostile to outsiders. You step ashore, the arrows zip out of the foliage.
Posted by: Grunter   2006-02-07 09:56  

#1  wow quite interesting that, kinda like a mini North Korea.
Posted by: ShepUK   2006-02-07 06:49  

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